Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07


great fist. John noticed she had her
yellow beads round her throat still,
though she was wearing washed-out
blue--hannel jacket belonging to the
ward. which struck him strangely.
Don't move your arms, Nancy
dear" he said, speaking in almost
whisper. and not daring to clasp the
hand laid in his. care you better?"
Nancy smiled up at him, still not
moving, but pressing his hand little,
snd said
"You be frightened OF me. John
But I'm lot bctter-l'm not drowned
now, you silly
John smiled little, for the first time
since he had looked at her, and said
eyes, l be frightened at you You
look so delicate, and such little thing;
and don't seem to know you, lying
abed ike that"
81 don't headed much on the boat,
do -" said Nancy, the flush, which
his coming had caused, fading and
leaving the little brown face suddenly.
CLOVIS father, John ?"
"He's gone on with the boat. 1t had
to go, you know. so far as Bolton. He's
coming on Wednesday to see yer-back
by train-if you amt out o this by
then, Nancy"
"Nay, / shan't be out" said Nancy,
her eyes filling. "The lady--the Sis
ter, mean-says III have to lay still a
good bit because of my ribs. Did you
know, John, when you pulled me o
water, that the boat had gone agen me
and squeezed me agen the bridge before
| went undor?"
John nodded, and putting his left
hand over hers lying in his right, said
huskily:
"Did it hurt very bad, Nancy dear?'
and then, breaking down altogether,
poor John knelt by the bed and laid
his head on the iron at the top of the
bed and sobbed like q child.
"Dont'ee, John, now dont'ee," said
Nancy, the red blood coming like
wave into her face suddenly.
at was not so very bad; i was
dazed, and didn't feel like at all. Don't
cry, John. / be a lot better, and it
don't hunt now. | cant bear to have
you cry" and the poor child's voice
got rough, and great tears rolled over
her checks, and she moved her hand to
pull Johns head down close to her,
and whispered: at was you who
saved me. John, you know. Oh, don't
cry so, John; I'm better"
For moment or two the poor fellow
sobbed helplessly over his little crushed
playfellow, and then when she said,
"You mustn't. John the lady can see
through that little window, and she'll
make yer co." he kissed the hand he
was holding and sat back in the chair
and looked pitifully at her, feeling
great helpless brute.
"John, said Nancy, shyly, after a
moment, "what made you say / was
Your sweetheart, when amt ?"
"You are, Nancy; ! didn't know it
myself till ] come to tell the lady you
was naught to me, and then | knowed
YOU were everything and all I've got to
care for. When you come ont of this
yon'll be my sweotwheart, won't you,
Nancy"
Nancy smiled with the tears hardly |
dry ana said, cit did sound strange to
hear you say out like that, 'She's my
sweetheart = But think | be-" she
said after n moment, looking roguishly |
up at John, who leaned over and kissed |
her.
"Come home soon, Nancy" he said"
and III take better care OF yOu. YOn
shan't jump of the barge agen, nor get |
drowned no more.
The door opened to admit n doctor |
and the Sister. John stood up and |
touched his forehead to the doctor, who |
nodded, and said:
Your sisters over the age, my man
she ought to have been taken to the in
Urinary, but as we have taken her in.
we must get her well. How old are
you q? " he added to the girl.
I'm sixteen and eight months, sir"
Dear me, she don't look it, does |
she, Sister"
mo, ;" said the Sister, taking down
a card that hung over the bed, and |
adding the age to il.
otis the short curly hair makes her
look so young, else she's a fine grown
girl really"
Chow came she to bo brought
here 2" said the Doctor, holding Nam
cys wrist, and putting one foot up on
the chair 10y the bed, resting his watch
on his knee. He addressed John, |
but kept his eyes on Nancy's face,
which was palingand flushing by turns.
81 was carrying her in myarns after
We got her out, sir, and her father says |
to the policeman where ought we
take my little girl; she's been nearly |
drowned and hurt ? Little girl?
says the policeman. take her to Cart
side street, the Children's Hospital,
odt patients room, you know, and 50
we does, and there was van there.
and they told us TO get i'll, and we was |
drove here"
ooh. | see" said the Doctor, laying
down the hand he held and putting up |
lis watch.
$50 they took You for real little
girl, instead of big little girl. ] dare
saw. Sister, you and G. mentioning the
other surgeon were only too delighted |
TO get good case into your Special
and forgot to ask the age! Any risa OF |
temperature?" glancinG at the chart
over the bed.
"No," said the Sister.
flake her food well Let's see,
milk only, isn't it? Like it?" Nancy |
nodded.
eyes, said the Sister again, land |
she sleeps well now"
ooh well she's doing very well,
and turning to John the Doctor SAID
those. to him, routine words, but which |
lifted load off the poor fellows heart
IF She lies still and does as she's told
she'll pull through now, but you'd bet
ter stop now talking to her, she's over
tired already. Say goodbye to your
sister and come TO the out.patient room
and give me your address. =,
"Shes my sweetheart, sir, said
John, slowly, looking at Nancy's down
cast eyelids. .;
"Oh, no !" said the Doctor, glancing
eborply from one to the other. linen
most certainly it's time you went.
You're far too interestingly visitor Tor
our patient" But being n man OF
chick sympathy, and although he was
n doctor and Imam of science, having
q sweetheart of his own, he called the
sister outside the door as he left to
give the young things a moment TO
while he impressed upon
rtraf OF